‘Pixels and Pencils’ Panelists Talk the Dangers of AI, Demanding Animation Processes and the Importance of Human Creativity

Filmmakers at a “Pixels and Pencils” panel in Savannah argued that animation depends on human creativity and painstaking work that artificial intelligence cannot replace. Their comments matter as the industry weighs how emerging technology may affect artists and filmmaking.

The six panelists discussed the time and craft behind their films: Brad Bird said “Ray Gunn” took about 30 years from its first idea to release, while Travis Knight said stop-motion film “Wildwood” involved 2,800 shots. Daniel Chong described building every character, setting and detail from scratch, and the filmmakers said a story’s needs should guide its animation style. Bird urged artists to keep learning as the field changes.